So the existence of a "federal CCW" for members of Congress was brought up in the richards-prieto thread. I did a 10 second search on the google machine and found a post from Jim march on another site (Some of you have no doubt seen it):

Original source: http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/depmar.htm

DEPUTIZATION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AS SPECIAL DEPUTY U.S. MARSHALS

The deputization of members of Congress as special Deputy U.S. Marshals is inconsistent with separation of powers principles and with the statutory language and historical practice governing special deputation.

May 25, 1994

MEMORANDUM FOR FRANCIS J. MARTIN
ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL
UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE

You have requested our assistance in determining whether the United States Marshals Service may deputize members of Congress as special Deputy U.S. Marshals. The Director of the Marshals Service is authorized to deputize the following individuals to perform the functions of Deputy Marshals: selected officers or employees of the Department of Justice; federal, state or local law enforcement officers; private security personnel to provide courtroom security for the Federal judiciary; and other persons designated by the Associate Attorney General. 28 C.F.R. § 0.112; see also 28 U.S.C. § 561(f) (authorizing Director of Marshals Service to appoint "such employees as are necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Service").

We believe that deputation of members of Congress is inconsistent with separation of powers principles and with the statutory language and historical practice governing special deputation.(1) First, deputizing members of Congress violates the principle recognized in Bowsher v. Synar, 478 U.S. 714 (1986), that Congress may not exceed its constitutionally prescribed authority by playing a direct role in executing the laws. The Marshals Service is clearly a part of the executive branch(2) and the primary duties of Deputy Marshals are the execution and enforcement of federal law. See Steele v. United States, 267 U.S. 505, 508 (1925) (deputy marshals are "chiefly charged with the enforcement of the peace of the United States"); United States v. Krapf, 285 F.2d 647, 649 (3rd Cir. 1960) (duties of marshals include the "enforcement, maintenance and administration of the federal authority"); 28 U.S.C. § 566 (describing the duties of the Marshals Service). Permitting members of Congress to execute and enforce the laws encroaches upon the very heart of the executive authority and violates one of the fundamental tenets of separation of powers jurisprudence: "[t]he structure of the Constitution does not permit Congress to execute the laws . . . ." Bowsher v. Synar, 478 U.S. 714, 726 (1986).

Members of Congress presumably request special deputation so that they may carry weapons for personal security and not so that they may actually execute or enforce the law. Nonetheless, deputized members of Congress will have statutory authority to enforce the law. Moreover, the fact that a legislative usurpation of executive power may prove to be innocuous or inchoate does not mean that it is constitutionally permissible. Legislative intrusions into the executive sphere that may prove harmless in practice nonetheless violate separation of powers principles. See Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority v. Citizens for the Abatement of Aircraft Noise, 111 S.Ct. 2298 (1991); Bowsher v. Synar, 478 U.S. 714 (1986). "The separated powers of our Government cannot be permitted to turn on" speculative assessments about the likelihood of a legislative official actually exercising usurped executive authority; "in the long term, structural protections against abuse of power [are] critical to preserving liberty." Bowsher, 478 U.S. at 730.

Deputation of members of Congress, furthermore, is not authorized by the statute and regulations governing special deputation. 28 U.S.C. § 561(f) states that the Director of the Marshals Service may appoint "such employees as are necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Service . . ." (emphasis added). Similarly, 28 C.F.R. § 0.112 provides that the Director may deputize certain persons "to perform the functions of a Deputy U.S. Marshal." Both the Marshals Service and this Office have repeatedly taken the position that the use of the special deputation authority should be limited to those circumstances where the United States Marshal needs the deputations in order to accomplish his or her specific mission. See Memorandum for Rudolph W. Guiliani, Associate Attorney General, from Ralph W. Tarr, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel (March 18, 1983) (concluding that Marshals Service could not deputize Henry Kissinger's private security service); Memorandum to the Attorney General from John M. Harmon, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel (March 28, 1977) (advising that it would be unlawful for the Marshals Service to deputize former Vice President Rockefeller's security detail). The Marshals Service does not need members of Congress to serve as deputy marshals in order to perform its assigned functions; indeed, members of Congress cannot perform the functions of the Marshals Service without running afoul of separation of powers principles.

It is therefore our conclusion that the Marshals Service cannot continue to grant requests from members of Congress for special deputation. Please let us know if we may be of any further assistance.
Walter Dellinger
Assistant Attorney General

1Because we think that the result is clear under a separation of powers analysis, we do not address the argument that special deputation of members of Congress is invalid under the Incompatibility Clause.

2The United States Marshals Service is a bureau within the Department of Justice and under the authority and direction of the Attorney General. 28 U.S.C. § 561.

Is this the method the Gubment is using to arm congress who don't want to have a CCW known about publicly and if so, will CGN ever try to get involved?

Ubermcoupe

03-21-2011, 9:00 AM

First I've seen of this and I am glad the US AGA took this stance. It seems apparent that there is a clear violation of separation of powers with this, however congress could just write a law allowing the carry of said weapons nationally, OR, make friends with a constituent Sheriff, get deputized, and carry in accordance with HR 218.

Glock22Fan

03-21-2011, 9:03 AM

There's some posts elsewhere (don't remember where) that say that the practice of giving Marshal CCW's to politicians has been stopped as it contravenes the concept of the "separation" of the three branches of government.

sfpcservice

03-21-2011, 9:24 AM

There's some posts elsewhere (don't remember where) that say that the practice of giving Marshal CCW's to politicians has been stopped as it contravenes the concept of the "separation" of the three branches of government.

I think that's probably where I copied this from.... But I can't say i really believe the practice has stopped. It has probably stopped from the US Marshals, but what about the US Capitol Police? I'm not sure what branch they are in, but they were created for congress. They are also the armed bodyguards for Congress when they travel...

Glock22Fan

03-21-2011, 9:43 AM

I think that's probably where I copied this from.... But I can't say i really believe the practice has stopped. It has probably stopped from the US Marshals, but what about the US Capitol Police? I'm not sure what branch they are in, but they were created for congress. They are also the armed bodyguards for Congress when they travel...

First, my apologies, I didn't read all the quote and thought it was describing how they were issued - didn't get as far as seeing that they said they had stopped issuing to members of Congress. I'm sure though (as you suggest) that there's a way around any/all of the restrictions so long as you are one of the "elite" and not just a common serf. If the likes of DiFi wants to carry a firearm, she'll have no problems finding a way to carry one.

Ripon83

03-21-2011, 10:16 AM

A gentlemen I knew had one issued by the UN in the 1980's. I saw it, thought it was fake, but I flew with him and he presented it to security at the airport and flew with it. He said 12 or 13 countries would not honor it including China. Still wonder if it was real or not.

Quser.619

03-21-2011, 1:39 PM

Hell, all any member of Congress has to say is that they are on their way to vote & they generally cannot legally be stopped while in DC. What LEA is going to arrest an active member of Congress for carrying whilst out of DC? Personally, can't think of any that want that much Federal attention.

Ubermcoupe

03-21-2011, 5:43 PM

A gentlemen I knew had one issued by the UN in the 1980's. I saw it, thought it was fake, but I flew with him and he presented it to security at the airport and flew with it. He said 12 or 13 countries would not honor it including China. Still wonder if it was real or not.

I've heard, and even seen, of the Special Green passports but not this.
CCW from UN? or like a "Special Deputy" from the UN?